That parallel stretch of road that could be called the “Weedon Bypass” - always seems to have plenty of artics going both ways on it, going to and from the DIRFT side of J18.
I notice that since this new bit of road has been built - there’s hardly anyone coming through Weedon crossroads still, which is still a bit of a rat run if you are going from the Midlands via Daventry itself, aiming to be southbound on the A5 towards Towcester. I’m using that route at present, on those nights the southbound M1 is closed @ J15.
When Northbound @ J14 is closed - coming off at the new J11a to connect with the A5 northbound - also acts as a fairly decent short cut as well. 